{ PROSPERITY : Word of the Year } : Winter 2022

I have been making Vision Boards, setting goals (both personal and professional) and crafting a Word of the Year on the first of the year for over a decade now. I usually go through a plethora of words before founding the word that fits my feeling perfectly.

This year was no different. I vacillated back and forth with several other words that were not landing quite right. I kept cycling back to ‘Prosperity’ and felt that was exactly what I wanted 2022 to be for me.

While most of us our struggling with on ongoing pandemic, many of us our trying to reclaim some semblance of life before 2019. I know I am. I have not been feeling very creative or motivated to work on my art business. I took a break during 2019-2020. The rest was necessary but I started getting antsy. I wanted to get back to the studio and back to teaching.

Prosperity to means more than money. Prosperity to me comes in the form of creating unique, one-of-a-kind wall art and handmade artist books as well as developing dynamic and compelling art class for people of all ages. Prosperity means creating interesting content for this blog that brings people to living a more creative life. Prosperity means enhancing my amazing relationships with my partner, my daughter and my friends.

As the year goes on and I loose the motivation to keep creating, I always look back on my Word of the Year and revisit why I choose that word to guide my year.

How about you? Do you choose a Word of the Year? How do you stay connected and focus when you stray for your vision?

{ Designing Artist Books : September 21-22, 2019 } // Floyd, VA

I will be hosting ‘Designing Artist Books’ at the Floyd Center for the Arts. If you want to learn how to make super funky papers…(or what to do with all those papers taking up space that are too beautiful to throw away), this weekend workshop is for you! In addition to making a TON of vibrant, handprinted papers, we will learn how to use everyday household items as stamps, using our handwriting as pattern, easy collage techniques that make a big impact and more!

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{ Bookmaking with VT Industrial Design Students } : April 2019 //

On Friday, April 5th, I joined 14 VT students to create one-of-a-kind mini handmade books as part of a class entitled Mindful Makers. This was the second semester I have been invited onto campus to be a part of this class. Isn’t it funny how others see us in regards to how we see ourselves? When I was originally invited to join the class, I remember how honored I was to be thought of as ‘mindful’ in my making.

Working with young adults that know how to (and love) work with their hands is a treat!

Working with young adults that know how to (and love) work with their hands is a treat!

A VT student is learning how to ‘convince’ the decorative paper that it wants to wrap around the book board.

A VT student is learning how to ‘convince’ the decorative paper that it wants to wrap around the book board.

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Here the Instructor discusses with the class their final projects as we admire the uniqueness of each piece

Here the Instructor discusses with the class their final projects as we admire the uniqueness of each piece

Yes…mini handmade books are the cutest…these students nailed it!

Yes…mini handmade books are the cutest…these students nailed it!

This class has inspired me to become more intentional in my mindfulness in regards to the way I create. I try to weave mindfulness into every class, workshop and camp I facilitate. Breathe, be in the present and focus on workmanship.